Optimism started for the New Bern Bears after their season-opening win over Durham Hillside at Caruso-Coates Stadium.

Senior defensive back Zahair Cherry returned a punt for a touchdown and intercepted a pass. Senior quarterback Josh Taylor passed for two scores, while seniors Jachin Watkins and De’Andre Ballard each had a rushing touchdown. Le’Auntae Grimes, Bra’lon Cherry and Chandler Powell also scored in the game.

The Bears opened up a 26-7 cushion at halftime.

New Bern 34

Havelock 33

(Aug. 24)

New Bern jumped out to a 34-13 lead after three quarters on a rainy Friday night at Rams Stadium in Havelock.

Havelock scored 20-unanswered points in the final quarter in its comeback attempt. Rams’ quarterback Pharoh Cooper scored on a 9-yard run with less than a minute remaining. Instead of going for the win, and the 2-point conversion, Havelock went for the extra point.

New Bern’s Zahair Cherry found a path through the line and blocked the kick to preserve the win over the defending 3-A state champions.

Watkins caught two touchdown passes for the Bears, and defensive lineman Naquandre Hill returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown.

New Bern 44

West Craven 8

(Aug. 31)

West Craven stunned New Bern early when quarterback Demetres Abrams scampered for a 58-yard touchdown run, and converted the 2-point conversion, to give the Eagles an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.

New Bern stormed back with 44-straight points.

Taylor tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another. Bra’lon Cherry had two receiving scores, and Naiquan Pickett caught a touchdown pass. Watkins and Ballard each had a rushing touchdown.

New Bern 47,

J.H. Rose 2

(Sept. 7)

Taylor eclipsed 100 touchdowns during New Bern’s win over J.H. Rose.

Taylor completed touchdown passes to Bra’lon Cherry and Pickett, while running for a touchdown. Cody Purdie, Watkins and Powell each had rushing touchdowns and Craig Stokes returned a fumble 10 yards for a score.

New Bern 56

Nash Central 7

(Sept. 14)

In its final non-conference tune-up, Watkins scored three rushing touchdown to propel New Bern to a blowout win over Nash Central.

Michael Hughes and Bra’lon Cherry each returned an interception for a touchdown. Cherry and Powell added receiving touchdowns and Phillip Scott scored on a 1-yard run.

New Bern 63

New Hanover 34

(Sept. 28)

With New Hanover driving, Michael Hughes stepped in front of a pass and returned it 80 yards to the end zone.

Hughes’ touchdown sparked a 28-point second quarter in New Bern’s conference-opening win over the Wildcats at Legion Stadium in Wilmington.

Taylor threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for two scores.

Watkins, who rumbled for 113 yards, found the end zone twice. Bra’lon Cherry had a receiving touchdown and returned an interception for a score. Powell and Purdie also cross the goal line.

New Bern 39

Hoggard 7

(Oct. 5)

New Bern built a 32-0 advantage at halftime, and took a 39-0 lead after three quarters, in a rout of Hoggard at Caruso-Coates Stadium.

Taylor had a huge game for the Bears. He passed for 222 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Bra’lon Cherry caught a touchdown pass and Watkins ran for two.

Cypress Borden recovered a fumble and returned it 20 yards for a New Bern touchdown.

New Bern 55

Ashley 0

(Oct. 12)

Bra’lon Cherry returned the opening kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown, and the Bears were off and running.

Taylor completed 9-of-10 passes for 172 yards. Andrew Frazier caught his first touchdown pass, while Powell had two. Ballard and Hughes each had a rushing touchdown.

New Bern 19

Laney 7

(Oct. 19)

The Bears clinched a share of the Mideastern Conference with a victory on a sloppy field at Laney High School.

Bra’lon Cherry scored on a 3-yard touchdown pass and a 29-yard run. Tyrone Whitehead extended New Bern’s lead when he returned a fumble for a touchdown in the third quarter.

New Bern’s offense gained only 52 yards in the first half.

New Bern 48

J.H. Rose 7

(Oct. 26)

New Bern clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs and its third-straight Mideastern Conference title after a convincing win over the Rampants in Greenville.

Rose scored first on a touchdown run just 1:24 into the game.

Watkins scored four touchdowns, and ran for 134 yards. Ballard and Hughes contributed rushing touchdowns and Powell caught a 48-yard pass for a score.

New Bern’s won 15-consecutive Mideastern Conference games.

Playoffs

New Bern 48,

PineForest 7

(Nov. 2)

Taylor used his running ability to guide New Bern to a win over Pine Forest in the first round of the 4-A state playoffs.

Taylor dashed for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Purdie added two touchdown runs.

Hughes caught a touchdown pass, returned a punt for another score and grabbed an interception. The Bears scored 48 straight points.

New Bern 41

Hoggard 17

(Nov. 9)

For the second playoff game in a row, Taylor ran for more than 200 yards.

The determined senior gained 230 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. Hoggard returned a blocked field goal in the second quarter to take a 7-2 lead.

Taylor then completed back-to-back touchdown passes to Bra’lon Cherry and Hughes. Taylor ran for three of his scores in the third quarter.

New Bern 49

New Hanover 35

(Nov. 16)

The Bears returned to the 4-A state semifinals for the third-straight season after beating New Hanover in a shootout at Caruso-Coates Stadium.

Watkins carried New Bern on his back with 234 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Bears jumped out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter, and a 28-7 lead at halftime.

Purdie scored three rushing touchdowns and Hughes hauled in a 49-yard touchdown pass.

Eastern Regional Championship

New Bern 23

Scotland County 6

(Nov. 23)

New Bern finally got through that roadblock — winning the Eastern Regional Finals after failed attempts the previous two seasons.

The Bears avenged last year’s 61-28 loss to Scotland County in the state semifinals.

The Bears led 9-6 at halftime, but touchdown runs from Taylor and Purdie extended the lead.

State Championship

New Bern 39

Porter Ridge38

(Nov. 30)

The lasting image of New Bern’s perfect season was the Bears’ final possession of the season.

Late in the 4-A state championship game, trailing 35-33, New Bern coughed up the football at its own 12-yard line.

In what may have been the play of the season, New Bern’s defense stuffed the Porter Ridge offense on third down and six yards to go. Kicker Matt Wogan booted a field goal to give the Pirates a 38-33 lead with four minutes remaining.

The senior-laden Bears drove 80 yards on 15 plays, before giving the ball to Watkins for the game-winning touchdown run with 26 seconds remaining.

Watkins, with four touchdowns, was New Bern’s Offensive Player of the Game. Taylor was the game’s Most Valuable Player. Borden was New Bern’s Defensive Player of the Game.